Sheila Jackson Lee introduces bill to require public disclosure of all FISA requests

Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, introduced her H.R. 2440 bill Tuesday, which would “require the Attorney General to disclose each decision, order, or opinion of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.”

On Thursday, the bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

However, the large majority of bills introduced to the House do not make it out of committee.

The legislation states that the Attorney General must make known each decision that is made in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court if significant interpretations of sections 501 or 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) need to be made.

Section 501, a product of section 215 of the U.S. Patriot Act, states that the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or someone designated by the director may request access to “any tangible things” needed for evidence when investigating acts of terrorism. Section 702 pertains to the targeting of those outside of the United States in the event of a terrorist investigation.

If enacted, this bill would make all decisions made under sections 501 and 702 of FISA known to the public, in an attempt to keep America informed about efforts to thwart possible terrorist attacks. However, it would only pertain to activities with an effect on the United States.

The exception to Jackson Lee’s bill is if the information “is not in the national security interest of the United States and for other purposes,” meaning that only information pertinent to America’s national security need be released to the public.

The bill boasts 11 cosponsors, including 10 Democrats and one Republican, North Carolina Republican Rep. Walter Jones, who joined the efforts Thursday, after the bill had been passed to committee.

According to a prognosis by govtrack.us, it is estimated that the bill has a seven percent chance of making it through committee and just a one percent chance of actually being enacted.